BURNLEY and Padiham are flying a special flag from their town halls to mark scooping four top awards for the quality of local parks.

The towns were recently handed the prestigious Green Flag awards for Thompson, Queen's and Scotts parks in Burnley, and Memorial Park, Padiham.

And to mark the awards, two of the coveted flags, which recognise Britain's best parks, are currently flying over Burnley and Padiham town halls.

Coun Roger Frost, Burnley Council's executive member for leisure and culture, said: "The fact that Burnley is one of only two authorities in the county that's managed to gain so many awards is a sign of the high standard of our parks.

"It's right that we should be proud of that achievement and fly the flag for the borough."

The Green Flags are seen as the benchmark for quality parks and green spaces, and earlier this year councillors, council staff and representatives from the parks' friends' groups travelled to Birmingham to receive the awards in August.

Now the council is committed to keeping the status for the four parks and gaining it for the borough's two remaining parks, Towneley and Ightenhill, as soon as possible.

Green Flag Awards judges look for good and safe access, signage, cleanliness, maintenance, attempts to promote conservation and heritage, and levels of community involvement.